Lonnie Rutherford Penny

Lonnie Rutherford Penny, of Morehead, twin son of the late Toker and Annie Penny, born February 10, 1936, transitioned from this earth to his new heavenly home on the morning of October 31, 2019.

Lonnie was born and raised in Baltimore City.  He was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School (Class of 1954). Shortly after graduating, Lonnie served in both the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Air Force. After being honorably discharged, Lonnie worked as a Correctional Officer and as a Police Officer for the Baltimore City Police Department. He retired from the State of Maryland, where he was the first African American Assistant Director for the Department of Natural Resources. During his time there he supervised both Sheila Dixon and Stephanie Rawlings Blake, who both later served as mayors of Baltimore City.

Lonnie loved to walk and talk to people in the community and was a jazz enthusiast. He loved public speaking and volunteered to speak often, always sporting some piece of African attire and a walking stick. His passion was writing and sharing his poetry with everyone. Also, Lonnie was a member of The Lord’s Church (Baltimore, Maryland).

In 2008, Lonnie moved to Morehead, Kentucky, with his granddaughter and family, where he was affectionately known as “Pops.” He often said that moving there put him in a bluegrass state of mind.

He enjoyed his time in Morehead and was very active in the community: volunteering at an elementary school, helping students at Morehead State University and watching his great grandchildren brought him great pleasure. In Morehead, he attended Better Life Church as well as on-campus churches at MSU.

Lonnie was active and had belonged to several groups and organizations: Frederick Douglass Class of 1954 Alumni, PBS Reader, Baltimore Story Tellers, Men of Distinction, Sandtown Neighborhood Association, The Veterans Associations of Morehead, Kentucky, and Baltimore, Maryland. Lonnie loved the Lord, his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by: his twin sister, Charlotte Briggs; wives, Julia B. Penny, Ruby Glover, Narvis Goodwyn, and Cassandra Penny; sister, Margaret Lucille Johnson (North Carolina); step-daughters, Carla and Toni Glover; and step-son, Dana Perkins.

He leaves to mourn: his daughters, Deneen Penny Rymes and Alison S. Penny; son-in-law, Warren Rymes Sr.; step-daughter, Ira Glover; step-sons, Butch Jenkins and Aaron Perkins (April Perkins); adopted brother and sister, David and Thomasina Mitchum (children, Judy and Saundra); sisters-in-law, Dorothy Rock, Verna Larry and Crystal Butler; grandchildren, Dia Rymes, Warren Eric Rymes II, Ashley N. Watson and Ashton N. Penny; great-grandchildren, Antonio V. Berry II, Ryan T. Rymes, Alayia N. Berry, Dashawn Watson, Warren Eric Rymes III, Naveyah Carroll, Nazir E. Rymes, Maurice A. Watson, Amari J. Watson and Sequoia Watson; four step-grandchildren; nieces, Gwendolyn Johnson (Texas), Margaret “Sister” Perry (North Carolina), and Loria Johnson (North Carolina); several other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  He will be greatly missed by all.

A gathering celebrating the life of Lonnie Rutherford “Pops” Penny will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 2019, at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351.

Sign guestbook at www.northcuttandson.com 

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